Deadwood in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Gold Discovery in the Great Sioux Reservation

By Barry Swackhamer, July 23, 2009

1. Gold Discovery in the Great Sioux Reservation Marker

Inscription. Gold sparkled in the prospector’s pan – the first discovery of the mineral in Deadwood Gulch. Exactly who the prospector was -- or the date and place of the discovery – is open to question. It is generally agreed that the Frank Bryant party found the gold in August 1875 on Whitewood Creek, probably 100 yards downstream from this spot. Word of the discovery spread quickly, and within months miners crowded into the gulch along Whitewood and Deadwood Creeks.

The Deadwood miners were part of the Black Hills gold rush which Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer triggered in 1874. His military expedition on the Sioux reservation had confirmed earlier rumors of gold. Prospectors swarmed to the Black Hills, in spite of government attempts to keep them out of the Indian territory. Early prospectors kept their activities secret, which contributes to the mystery surrounding the Deadwood Gulch discovery. The miner’s presence remained illegal until the Sioux treaty was ratified in February 1877.
[Photo credit:] South Dakota State Historical Society

Lawrence County. Marker is at the intersection of Pine Street and Siever Street on Pine Street. Touch for map. This marker is adjacent to the "Gold in the Gulch" marker. Marker is in this post office area: Deadwood SD 57732, United States of America.

3. Proclamation expelling all unauthorized citizens from the Black Hills

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 783 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. 3. submitted on November 21, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.